Korean Film 'Gunch' Receives Standing Ovation at Cannes, Tops Domestic Box Office Pre-Sales

Film 'Gunch' has generated significant buzz after its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation, and it has now topped the domestic box office pre-sales ahead of its release.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system, as of 8:27 a.m. on May 17, 'Gunch' recorded a pre-sale rate of 28.1%, with 94,743 tickets sold, placing it at the top of the pre-sale rankings. It surpassed competing foreign films, including 'Michael,' which opened last week, as well as 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' and 'Super Mario Galaxy.'

'Gunch' depicts the struggle of isolated survivors against evolving infected individuals in a high-rise building sealed off due to an unidentified infection outbreak. It is the latest work from director Yeon Sang-ho, known for establishing the K-zombie genre with films like 'Train to Busan' and 'Peninsula.'

The film's pre-release interest was confirmed at the Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered on May 16 (local time) in the Midnight Screenings section at the Palais des Festivals. The 2,300-seat theater was filled with local audiences and film industry professionals, including director Yeon Sang-ho and actors Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, and Shin Hyun-bin.

Park Chan-wook, the jury president of this year's Cannes competition, welcomed the 'Gunch' team on the red carpet alongside Thierry Frémaux, the festival's executive director. As the cast and director entered the theater before the screening, applause lasted for about five minutes, and after the film concluded, a standing ovation lasted approximately seven minutes.

After the screening, Yeon Sang-ho expressed his gratitude, stating, "It is such an honor to present 'Gunch' again at the Cannes Film Festival, a dream come true. The overwhelming support will be a memorable experience for a long time as I continue to make films."
'Gunch' portrays the desperate fight of those trapped inside a high-rise building in downtown Seoul following an unidentified mass infection outbreak.

Following its premiere at Cannes and the surge in domestic pre-sales, 'Gunch' has emerged as one of the most anticipated films in theaters this May. Given its pre-sale success against a backdrop of strong foreign films, there is keen interest in whether it will translate into box office success after its release. The film is set to hit domestic theaters on May 21.

Meanwhile, the 79th Cannes Film Festival will continue until May 23, featuring South Korean films such as Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' in the competition section, Jung Joo-ri's 'Dora' in the Directors' Fortnight, and Choi Won-jung's short film 'Rhapsody of Birds' in the La Cinef section.